“Happy Camper, i could not agree with you more, Long Live The Circus. I don't believe we have any bad or nasty circuses here in the UK. The RSPCA independant report and the DEFRA/Circus Working Group/Radford Report tells us that. The Great British Circus, had some bad publicity over the groom incident with the elephants being hit with a brush! True, the groom should never have done it and when the circus management discovered what was going on, sacked him and made sure he went back home. The elephants left the show for several weeks and were given a full independant vet inspection to make sure they were ok. They were fully fit and totally healthy and so returned to the show to delight the audiences.
All circus animals are subject to inspections by vets, often unannounced to check their health and welfare.
Considering how much press the anti circus community get to tell their tales of cruelty etc etc, its rather strange that circuses are not being prosecuted more often. Given how many claims are made by groups in the media, its strange their is hardly ever any documented evidence to back their claims!
As for Gerry Cottle on Radio 4, i too have listened to this and whilst the other person being interviewed seemed quite keen on animals, it was Gerry who said different. Gerry is a good PR man, always was and he always says what he thinks people want to hear! He sadly forgets just how successfull his traditional animal circus was and forgets quicker just how much money he lost in 2 years with his non animal circus. He currently runs the Wookey Hole Caves attraction in Somerset and his current involvement in British circus is limited to a third party using his name only for their touring show.
I personally believe, with regulation which is what the circus industry has been asking for, for a number a years, that traditional animal circus still has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment and education, providing people will let it.
I see zoo's, also got a bashing in the Sunday Express from one MP, who it seems overstepped her position and remit. Seems the Government are going no where near zoo's. No, the Zoo Federation is a very powerful and large body. Its easy to pick the circuses off, as this in comparision, is quite a small group.”

“I wish these antis would leave the circus alone those animals have had a clean bill of health and they are cared for and you get a load of kids protesting have they got nothing else to do why dont they get a job .
i love the circus and long may it live.”

“I listened to the Gerry Cottle interview on Radio 4's Today programme.
Gerry Cottle has been a highly respected member of the circus industry for many years and he is still very actively involved today. In this interview he speaks passionately and intelligently about 'circus'.
He, himself, gave up using animals 20 years ago and he expresses a wish (almost a plea) that some of his peers would accept that animal circus is over and move on, fearing that circuses will never be accepted properly until this happens. It's worth a listen if you're interested.”

“Boo hoo hooo Andrew Lewis. Domestic animals next - all the better! Long live the circus (but not the nasty ones)!”

“The Great British Circus is brilliant,all the animals are well fed and well looked after.Long live the Circus .”

“The on line poll/consultation is nothing more than a total joke. Done over the winter period when most circuses are off the road and not in contact with any of their customers. DEFRA gave the online poll no publicity at all. The only people who knew anything about it, were the circus industry and their supporters and the opposing animal welfare groups and their supporters. The result therefore of 94% in favour of a ban is laughable. 9000 people out of a population of 60 million replied to it. This tells you something.
How something one sided can be given so much publicity by the antis as reflecting public opinion beats me.
Ben Bradshaw, the then DEFRA minister had stated that 'certain non domestic species would be banned from touring circuses in England only, but only if there welfare needs could not be met'.
The Circus Working Group was set up, with 3 experts to represent the circus industry and 3 for the opposing sides. After reviewing masses of submitted evidence, site visits to circuses on the road, winter quarters etc, the reports conclusion after 18 months of debate, was that the welfare of wild animals in British circuses was no more inferior to that of wild animals in other animal husbandry systems and therefore there was no evidence to support a ban.
Considering how often protsters stand outside animal circuses and get media coverage, with all their claims of abuse and cruelty, they had the perfect opportunity to get wild animals banned and yet despite all their so called evidence, they failed miserably.
The animal rights groups are therefore not happy at the reports conclusions, despite giving the Labour Party millions of pounds in donations in the hope they would get their own way.
This is a last ditch attempt to try and undermine the Circus industry in the UK.
Believe me, if wild animals do get banned, domestic animals in circuses and other forms of entertainment will be next. Then keeping birds in cages as pets, fishing (they have started on this one already), dogs on leads etc etc.
You may read this and maybe laugh, but it will become true!!
The public support animal circuses in vast numbers, thats why they are still touring.
The public know the truth, they are not stupid.
Long Live Traditional Animal Circuses.”

“Fingers crossed - goodbye and good riddance to the ghastly british circus. This is the best news for ages.”